Landscape Maintenance

Lawn Care

A lush, green, vigorous lawn greatly improves the appearance and value of any property and should not be overlooked. You no longer need to worry about which products to apply, when to apply them, how much to use, or if the product you are using is going to produce the results you desire. Our experienced technicians do all of those things for you. Take advantage of their knowledge and skills. Your lawn will stay, healthy, beautiful and pristine.

Lawn Care Services

Mowing

Fertilization

Aeration

Overseeding

Liming

Dethatching

Sprinkler Repair and Maintenance

Garden & Landscape Services

Horticulture Management

Seasonal Annual and Perennial Plantings

Mulching and Bark Blowing

Hedge and shrub clipping

Detailed pruning

Spring and fall clean-ups

Property Management

Street Sweeping

Mosquito and Tick Spraying

Tree Removals, Pruning, and Annual Maintenance

Snow Removal

And much more. Just ask!

Our Complete Care Package includes all of the aforementioned services for one monthly fee – a great help for budgeting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are frequently asked questions about landscape maintenance. Click on the question to expand and reveal the answer. If your question is not listed please feel free to contact us using the contact form in the sidebar!

What types of pesticides are commonly used by All Island Landscape?

All Island Landscape primarily uses pesticides that are registered for “General Use”. The “General Use” classification means that these pesticides can be purchased by anyone. The pesticides that are used by licensed applicators while still classified as “General Use”, in most cases, have higher percentages of the active ingredients. Keep in mind the list of pesticides (found in the pesticide section) is not used for every lawn; in fact, most lawns will be treated with only one or two, if any, of the pesticides.

What are pesticides typically used for?

Crabgrass control occurs in the early spring. The products we use are not highly toxic but can remain for months in the environment, either bonded to the soil or taken up by the plant. Insect control starts in the late spring with a time release application to cover the majority of the season. If damage is noted, the insect is identified and spot applications would be applied to control further damage. These products can remain in the environment anywhere from a day to weeks, depending on the target insect’s control measures.

What if I have a question or problem?

The Department of Environmental Management (DEM) regulates the use of pesticides in the state of Rhode Island. It is against the law to use a pesticide that is not consistent with the label directions. All commercial pesticide applicators must have a valid Pesticide Applicators License issued to them by DEM. If you suspect that your applicator or one in the neighborhood is unlicensed or misusing pesticides, contact Rhode Island DEM immediately. If you have any other questions regarding pesticides you may contact any of the following for information:

All Island Landscape Office – (401)683-1588

Department of Environmental Management – (401)222-6800

EPA Pesticide Hotline – (800)858-7378

Poison Control Center – (800)222-1222

Are applications of commercial lawn care pesticides safe?

All pesticides are poisons. The toxicity varies from one pesticide to another, and different people are affected differently when exposed to the same amounts. Although there are usually no hazards from the chemicals being applied to your lawn because of the lack of concentration once applied, exposure should be avoided in any circumstance. All Island Landscape stays very conservative with the time (72 hours) we set for you to return to normal yard use.

Is it safer to maintain my own lawn?

It is probably not a good idea. When you purchase lawn care insecticides at your local dealer, they are essentially the same products that professionals use. There are some exceptions to this rule when trying to control specific species of weeds that will most likely not be covered by what a homeowner can purchase. The “do-it-yourself” applications are hazardous to your health and without special knowledge of how to avoid exposure, you put yourself at an unnecessary risk. Although many people properly use pesticides, the greatest incidences of exposure are with the homeowner. There are additional hazards to pesticides relating to the proper storage – they should be stored in an area where kids and animals will not get into them. Studies have also found that homeowners tend to over-apply the given chemicals, with the thought that more will get the job done faster and they don’t want to have any left over product for storage. This in return pollutes the environment and may eliminate the beneficial insects, which are needed elsewhere in the ecosystem.

Can I minimize exposure to pesticide applications?

Yes. You can reduce your exposure and the potential problems from pesticide applications by following the directions of your licensed applicator. These directions are: keep windows closed, do not walk on grass where chemicals have been applied (if unavoidable use rubber boots that can be rinsed with water), remove children’s and pet’s toys from yard, stay up wind from any spraying, be sure the applicator can see you or let him know if you are in the yard, and if you own a pet either walk him down street or designate an area not to be treated.

Can I be notified by All Island Landscape prior to fertilizer applications?

Yes. All Island landscape is able to notify customers of an up-coming application. We leave this option of pre-notification up to the customer and find that most companies do not offer this. One week prior to each step in the fertilization program an email will be sent to you identifying which application will be done. We will do our best to keep with that schedule, but unforeseen events do happen (i.e. equipment breakdowns, weather, and illness.) If we are behind with our scheduling there will not be a follow-up email, but please go on the basis that we will be there the following week. Please send your name, address, contact number, and email address toericl@allislandlandscape.com and a conformation email will be sent back to you. This will ensure positive communication and that you are on the list for notification of any pesticide/fertilization applications.

Must the applicator place signs on my lawn?

Yes. The applicator is required by law to post at each property’s entrance points signs identifying that a pesticide has been applied. The sign provides a warning to you and your neighbors that a pesticide has been applied and to keep off for 72 hours. Children should be taught to identify these signs and to stay away from the lawn until an adult says it is ok to walk on.

How long should I leave these signs posted?

The applicator will leave a date on the card along with how many hours until it is safe. All Island Landscape always indicates 72 hours for any application. We feel that keeping this time conservative ensures everyone’s safety.

What information must be left with me after an application?

Typically the customer will not be given a separate notification of what is applied to the lawn. Keep in mind that your notification email will identify what step in the program is being applied and when. However, you can find specific chemical information about what is being applied listed on the signs posted on your property. The information on the posted cards will include:

The name of the pesticide applicator

The date of the application

The trade name of the product used

The words stating this sign should stay posted for 72 hours

All of All Island Landscape’s licensed applicators have Material Safety Data Sheets in their trucks. MSDS’s can also be found online at www.Lesco.com or at Cornell University http://msds.ehs.cornell.edu/msdssrch.asp

Is my dog killing my grass?

Yes, your dog is killing your grass every time he/she is allowed to their business on the lawn. Lawn burn is caused by the nitrogen in a dog’s urine. Because dog’s urine is very high in nitrogen, when the dog urinates, it is similar to pouring liquid fertilizer on the lawn. A little fertilizer is good for the grass, but in excess causes nitrogen burn. The prevention of lawn burn deals with trying to reduce the amount of nitrogen coming into contact with the grass. The following are several contributing factors that increase the likelihood of developing “canine lawn burn”:

Female dogs are more likely to cause lawn burn than males because they void their entire bladder in one location instead of lifting their leg and marking, like males.

Female dogs are more likely to cause lawn burn tLarge dogs deposit more urine so they increase the quantity of nitrogen in one location, making lawn burn more likely.

Female dogs are more likely to cause lawn burn tUsually young active dogs fed a high protein diet are more likely to produce urine that causes “canine lawn burn.”

Female dogs are more likely to cause lawn burn tHeavily fertilized yards are already receiving near maximum levels of nitrogen. The smallest amount of nitrogen in dogs’ urine may be all that is needed to cause “canine lawn burn.”

Female dogs are more likely to cause lawn burn tLawns that are stressed are more susceptible to damage. Lawns that are suffering from drought, disease, or are newly sodded or seeded will be more susceptible to “canine lawn burn.”

How do I solve this issue of “canine lawn burn”?

The following information was gathered from several web sites and discussions with the professors at The University of Rhode Island. All Island Landscape asks you to please contact your veterinarian before trying any of the follow steps, to ensure the health of your pet is not compromised.

Saturate the urinated spots with water. After the pet urinates, pour several cupfuls of water on the spot to dilute the urine.

Be sure that if you’re feeding a high quality dog food that it does not exceed your dog’s daily protein requirements. Most high quality dog foods have more digestible protein sources that are more completely utilized by the dog and create less nitrogenous waste in the urine.

Encourage your dog to drink more water. This will help dilute the urine and decrease the risk of “canine lawn burn.”

Train your dog to urinate in a location that is less visible or in a section off an area with mulch. This approach is very effective for some owners that do not want to add supplements to their dog’s diet.

All Island Landscape can overseed your yard with more canine urine-resistant grasses. The most resistant grasses tend to be perennial rye grasses and fescues. The most sensitive tend to be Kentucky bluegrass (commonly found) and Bermuda grass.

Feed your dog a supplement that can be found in many dog supply catalogs. These products bind and neutralize the nitrogen in your dog’s urine.

Reduce the stress on your lawn by having All Island Landscape properly fertilize your lawn with correct amount of nitrogen. Install a sprinkler system through All Island Landscape which will provide frequent watering.